How did the Spanish colonization of the Philippines affect the country?
The Spanish colonization of the Philippines had a significant impact on the country's history, culture, and development. It began in 1565 with the arrival of Spanish explorers and missionaries, who established a strong presence in the archipelago. The Spanish colonizers introduced Catholicism as the The Philippines was a Spanish colony for over 300 years, until it was ceded to the United States at the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898. The Philippines gained independence from the United States in 1946.